9/5: A note , Venice

I had some of my best Italian food today in Venice.. Ah! That Pizza with fresh tomatoes and onions was something truly to experience.

With my "extra retarded" knife and fork skills, I had my gallant husband come to my rescue. With that custom cut Pizza I could finally savor each bite.

The pesto Spaghetti dinner with a ultra YUM Tiramisu gelato.... makes me want some more...

I think I am going to like Italy.......

Glimpses of Venices

The famous Rialto Bridge

The First view of Venice from the Rialto Bridge.. SIGH SIGH

9/5: Our First Day in Italy: Venice

Being seated in the center seat in the airplane has some disadvantages, the chief amongst them being unable to get a clear glimpse of Italy from air. However, being an Indian, a race with a reputation of making things work, I was able to, by craning my neck a lil' get my first glimpse of Italian mountains (Dolomite perhaps?), which I have to admit did not awe me! Blame it on the Peruvian Andes which I saw last year. However, given the fact that my view was not really the best, I decided to let the first impressions rest.. atleast a lil' while longer!!

Armed with a bus and water taxi tickets, we were all set to begin our Italian adventure in the fabled “lovers paradise: Venice”

And lo! Venice, with wide canals (which BTW were much larger than I had imagined), throngs of people, water taxis jutting by, this place had certainly earned itz reputation of being unique. Sitting on the front row in the water taxi, I could not complain about the view. I was all set to fall for Venice, even a much colder Venice than I expected!

After depositing out bags in Hotel Bernadi we wandered, hand in hand, onto the narrow streets and up to the Rialto Bridge. From atop the Bridge, you get what some may call “A picture Perfect Venice”. The blue gondola's sailing along makes you sigh and as you seek that comfortable shoulder next to you.. you just know that you will love Italy....

Gobi Manchurian

One of my favorite dishes : The Gobi Manchurian

The picture is from a while back, but hey these are one of those rare few times when I can actually boast that I cooked something that looked this good…

Just could not resist putting this picture in… some ego is always a good thing.. right??? J

Karkady: the Hibiscus tea from Land of Pharaoh

As I sat in my office sipping the hot Tazo “Passion” tea, my mind kept wandering to the deep red colors of the Hibiscus tea. We were first introduced to this tea (also called Karkady) in Egypt. Offered everywhere, in restaurants, hotels, café and stores, this was the drink of my choice during our tour there.

The tangy tasting liquid may not suit many taste buds (including my hubby, who did not care much for it), but being one of those few Indians who does not like Chai (YES! I do not care for Indian Chai), the Karkady suited my taste buds just fine! I am a total sucker for drinks like this....

Made from the dried, dark red petals of the Hibiscus flower, the color of this drink is down right fascinating. You swirl it and as the light falls on it, you can actually see different hues of red and there are some reds which I swear I have hardly ever seen. Amidst the smoke swirling off the Shisha ( the Egyptian Hookah), sipping this tea is an experience hard to forget…….ahh those memories …all that remains is but those memories..................

Anyway, on the bright side I did get some dried Hibiscus petals from Egypt (surprisingly cheap), but could not brew a good cup of tea . Today however, I was determined, so here I was back from work, exhausted yet looking through the internet ... googling away to get a recipe which sounded like it would work. Now at last, I can claim that the sucess is mine (oh that sweet lady) and I (being the generous person I am) have decided to share this recipe (which you can find online) and increase the followers of the "Hibiscus tea fan Club"... try it, see if you like it ...may be (just may be) you would.........

Ingredients

· 1 cup (1 1/2 oz.) dried hibiscus blossoms

· 1 cinnamon stick (about 1 in.)

· Ice cubes

· About 1/3 cup sugar

Preparation

1. In a 4- to 5-quart pan on high heat, bring 3 quarts water to boiling. Add hibiscus blossoms and cinnamon stick. Cover and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. Let cool about 1 hour.

2. Pour tea through a strainer, lined with a double thickness of cheesecloth, into a pitcher. Discard residue in strainer. Pour tea, hot or cold, into ice-filled glasses. Add sugar to taste.

I need to know more about Fractal theory...

There are times like this, when I feel good about working where I do...

Today while we were seeing a TV series about "Fractal theory" (fascinating stuff) I realized that the theory in its current state was first coined by Benoît Mandelbrot – an Ex-IBM T J Watson researcher. May be working there, someday some of the genius which surrounds me will rub off ??

Anyway, the fractal theory by itself amazing in its simplicity. The fact that it can give a mathematical structure to the randomness in nature, is rather spellbinding. Have to read more about this subject… better understand the explaination of the seemingly disordered world with such geometrical simplicity.

This is definately on my list of things to read about .................................

hmmm...

Ever wondered why endings are as important as the beginnings…..

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society : A Review

What a delight !!!!! I just got up after reading this book and I have to say that it was a one of those which leaves a smile lingering on your face long afterward.

Placed around World War II this book brings to life the horrors of the war time and the bravery of the people who lived through it. Set as a series of letter, between the narrator and the other characters, this book manages to be funny while tantalizing those "tear glands"

At the end of the book, I swear I feel like I personally know all the characters and the place "Guernsey Island". And the best part - I have that "rare" feeling of satisfaction at the "end", which is so rare with a book.

Often great books fall short of being really "great" due to the ending, but this one ... Nay! not this one.

On a day of leisure, where you want to curl up and pick a "feel good" book, choose this one... with a mug of coffee next to you, sipping away, drown yourself into these pages......... you will find yourself sighing, sniffling and smiling....